Zelig

Zelig

Leonard Zelig (Allen) is the “human chameleon” in mock-documentary scenes that purport to be vintage newsreel clips of the 1920s and ’30s but are actually clever recreations. Zelig’s desire for conformity is manifested in his ability to take on the facial and vocal characteristics of whomever he happens to be around at the moment. He shows up at batting practice with Babe Ruth, among William Randolph Hearst’s guests at San Simeon, side by side with Pope Pius at the Vatican, and peering anxiously over the shoulder of Adolf Hitler at the Nuremberg Rally. “Not only pricelessly funny, it’s also, on occasion, very moving.”—Vincent Canby, The New York Times.

Tonight we welcome Reed College professor Marat Grinberg, who will introduce one of Woody Allen’s classic, quip-rich comedies and talk about his new collection of essays, WOODY ON RYE: JEWISHNESS IN THE FILMS AND PLAYS OF WOODY ALLEN. In Allen’s film, Danny Rose (Allen) is a hapless but very conscientious theatrical agent who can only …